VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Vancouver Canucks coach Alain Vigneault made it clear what he wants his team to do tonight against the Detroit Red Wings -- get traffic in front of goaltender Jimmy Howard.

“I'd like to take sort of a page out of Detroit's book,'' Vigneault said Wednesday. "I feel they're the best team in the league as far as net presence, always having somebody there, somebody square to the puck, making life real hard on the other team's goaltender.

"We need to screen the goalie more than look to tipping pucks. Letting the goalie see the shots, most of time it's a pretty easy save for the goaltender. Detroit is so good at that. They got so many big bodies that like to do that and go in that tough area.''

Vigneault also said the Red Wings are more physical than they're given credit for.

“I think they're one of the most physical teams in the league, whether you call physical taking the man when the opportunity is there or protecting the puck,'' Vigneault said. "The size of some of those forwards when they have the puck down low or you're battling along the wall or in a confined area, to get the puck away is a real challenge. And to protect it if they're on you is a big challenge.''